JP7047026B2 - Anti-theft system for stores - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a security system applicable to luxury goods stores such as optician stores or watch stores.

Systems that use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips attached to products to protect the products on display in the store are known. These systems require the use of bulky mechanical tip fasteners, which are removed at checkout using special devices or scissors during purchase, and the use of bulky infrastructure, especially gates installed at store exits. do.

European patent application EP2575112A1 discloses an inventory management and anti-theft system that uses a transponder (tag) with an RFID chip, which is queried ad hoc or continuously by an RFID reader and puts the data in a database. Send. The transponder or tag comprises a coupling mechanism that is open at the point of sale. The chip records the number of times the tag is opened and closed. This information forms part of the transmitted data. Unauthorized release is thus detected. This system still requires the opening of tags at checkout by gates and special devices. No product movement in the store is detected.

A wired anti-theft system is also known, and this wired anti-theft system uses a wire between the product and the exhibit to prevent the product installed on the exhibit from being taken out of the exhibit. do. These systems can also manage the presence of products on the exhibit. However, these systems are bulky and often hinder customers from trying on products.

European patent application EP2575112A1

It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft system that does not require very expensive infrastructure, allows control of the existence of a product, and does not require a tag with a lock or other bulky mechanism.

This object is achieved by the system described in the appended claims. The present invention relates to an anti-theft system applicable in a commercial environment such as a watch shop. The products on display in the store are protected by the electronic tags attached to the products. The tag comprises a chip that emits a first signal, which can only be received within the defined perimeter around the chip. The electronic transmission device is located within this periphery and transmits the data transmitted in the first signal in the form of a second signal, where the second signal is a value relative to the distance between the tag and the transmission device. Further includes. The second signal is managed by one or more computers, preferably a portable computer, including a digital application, which analyzes the second signal and is defined specifically around the transmitting device. It is configured to check for the existence of tags within the security zone.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reading the following description given for preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These preferred embodiments are provided as non-limiting examples.

It is a schematic diagram of the environment which integrated the security system by this invention. It is a figure of the electronic tag (transponder) which can be used in the security system by this invention. It is a figure of the electronic tag (transponder) which can be used in the security system by this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a typical configuration of an anti-theft system according to the present invention. The space inside the watch shop is shown as a rectangular portion 1. The table 2 is located in the store, and a plurality of clocks 3 are displayed on the table 2. The electronic tag 4 is attached to the watch 3. Each tag (transponder) includes a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) chip. The BLE technology itself is known and allows the BLE chip to send data packets called advertising frames. Such a continuous series of advertising frames represents the "first signal" listed within the appended claims. In a fashion characterized by BLE technology, the first signal can be received only within the limited perimeter around the tag 4.

The advertising frame transmitted by the tag contains a unique code for each watch 3, which allows identification of the watch on display. When the clock 3 is placed at the designated position on the table 2 at the position in the peripheral part of all the tags 4 fixed to the table, the electronic transmission device 5 (“BLE / WiFi gateway” type connection gateway) is installed, and this The electronic transmission device 5 receives advertising frames from various tags 4. The connection gateway (“BLE / WiFi gateway”) itself is well known and allows information encoded within the advertising frame to be transmitted over the WiFi link. The connection gateway 5 used in the present invention further transmits a so-called RSSI (received signal strength indication) value indicating the strength of the BLE signal received by the connection gateway 5 for each tag.

According to one preferred mode of application, one or more people affiliated with the store will have a mobile phone or tablet 6 type portable computer, which will be with the BLE / WiFi gateway 5 over WiFi link. It communicates continuously and therefore receives the "second signal" mentioned within the claims. The second signal is generated by a technique (WiFi) different from the technique (BLE) for generating an advertising frame. The second signal contains at least one discriminant information encoded within the advertising frame by various tags and RSSI values.

The configurable security zone 10 is defined around the location of the connection gateway 5. The second signal is synchronized within the security zone with the advertising frame transmitted by the tag set. The format of the second signal consists of a series of advertising frames for all tags in area 10 and has all transmitted data and RSSI values for each tag.

Each portable computer 6 comprises a digital application that checks the RSSI values for the various tags 4 in real time and generates a warning if the RSSI of the tag 4 falls below a predefined threshold. Below the predefined threshold, it means that the tag has moved outside the security zone 10. This indicates that the tag has been separated from area 10 by an unauthorized person. The application displays information on the screen of the portable computer 6 to identify the tag in question and the product to which this tag is attached. This information is obtained from the advertising frame transmitted by tag 4.

According to a preferred embodiment, the digital application is further configured to generate a warning when the connection between the tag 4 and the connection gateway 5 is lost. For this purpose, the tag 4 is attached to the watch 3 so that the BLE chip inside the tag 4 is automatically disabled when the tag 4 is separated from the watch 3 by an unauthorized person. This type of tag 4 is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The tag or transponder comprises a BLE chip 16 and a plastic housing 15 containing an energy source, and the energy source may be a battery 17. For example, the plastic cover 18 can be detachably assembled onto the housing 15 and include a label indicating the price of the product on display. The tag 4 is attached to the product by a loop 19, where the loop 19 comprises two elements 19a and 19b, the elements 19a and 19b comprising or consisting of an electric wire. The loop can be opened and closed by a plug-in pin or screw-in connector 20, and the two parts 20a and 20b of the plug-in pin or screw-in connector 20 are fastened so as to be conductive to the ends of the two elements 19a and 19b. Will be done.

According to a preferred embodiment, the loop is composed of synthetic fibers associated with an electric wire and gives the appearance of nylon yarn ("E-textile" type material). According to one embodiment, the loop forms an electrical connection that forms part of the power supply circuit, which powers the chip 16 when the loop is closed. When an unauthorized person removes the tag by disconnecting the loop 19 or opening the connection portion 20, the BLE chip 16 stops transmitting advertising frames, thereby generating a warning on the portable computer 6. The warning message identifies one or more specific clocks based on the code integrated into the advertising frame.

According to another embodiment, the closed loop 19 also forms part of the circuit connected to the BLE chip 16 if there is no loop opening to disconnect the power supply to the chip. However, this loop release is detected by the circuit, which causes the chip to send an advertising frame containing a warning message for a predefined period of time, eg, a few minutes. This message warns the user of the portable computer 6 that the tag has been removed without permission. After a predefined period, the BLE chip 16 can be disabled.

According to one embodiment, the tag 4 comprises an accelerometer, which generates a signal in response to the movement of the tag 4 within the security zone 10, and the data for such movement is integrated into the advertising frame. And sent to the portable computer 6. The digital application of the portable computer 6 is configured to interpret the movement data and possibly generate a warning in case of unauthorized movement. This either protects the product at several levels or makes the security level adaptable to the product. For example, installing a clock table that must generate a warning as soon as the clock is moved from the exhibit on which the clock is displayed, and another table that allows the customer to pick up the clock and not activate the warning. You can send data for the move with. This data can be stored on a mobile phone or central computer and used, for example, as a reference for market research.

The security system may include a plurality of connection gateways 5 associated with a plurality of groups of tags 4 in the store, for example, one connection gateway for each exhibition table in the watch store. Therefore, a separate security zone 10 is assigned to each connection gateway 5. Each portable computer 6 can receive information about all connected gateways 5, and thus all tags 4 in operation in the store. Each portable computer receives the same information transmitted by one or more gateways 5. According to a preferred embodiment, the digital application is configured so that each portable computer can be filtered differently according to the needs of the user. For example, a user of a portable computer may or may not choose to select a particular protected area 10, or only to display information contained in an advertising frame, and not to display information about tag displacement. The reverse is also true.

A pairing procedure must be performed between the tag and one or more portable computers before the tag can be added to the system. The procedure generally consists of communication between the tag and the portable computer, during which the portable computer receives the coded information within the tag and is based on the identification data about the tag and associated product. To register. For BLE tags, this pairing procedure is preferably performed by creating a direct BLE link between the portable computer and the tag 4, i.e., a link that does not go through the connection gateway 5. For this purpose, the BLE chip operates in a "connectable" fashion during the pairing procedure. As soon as pairing is complete, the chip switches to an "unconnectable" fashion, preventing any new connections and thus any new pairings. To return to the "connectable" mode, the tag must be restarted, for example by removing the tag's battery.

Preferably, the first signal is encrypted to protect the communication between the tag and the portable computer. The encryption key can be transmitted to the tag by one of the portable computers during the pairing procedure. The use of this key allows the portable computer to decrypt the data.

According to a preferred embodiment, the advertising frame is partially encrypted. The encrypted portion specifically includes a time stamp and other data. However, some of the data is not encrypted, which allows the data to be read without pairing. The encrypted data including the time stamp can be read only by one or more portable devices or mobile phones that know the encryption key. This encryption prevents anyone without any authority from reading this information, or encrypted data such as alarms or errors or other data. Furthermore, adding a time stamp to the encrypted part makes it possible to change the data over time, thus preventing unauthorized persons from fraudulently registering the tag.

A certain amount of information contained in the advertising frame, such as the battery status of the tag, appears in unencrypted form so that it can be read without pairing. However, other data such as time stamps and alarms must be encrypted. The encryption information of the advertising frame can only be read if the encryption key is known.

As shown above, the time stamp is contained within the cryptographic advertising frame. This time stamp can be a time value that increments every second. Timestamps allow the cryptographic advertising frame to be completely modified and prevent tags from being fraudulently registered. It is essentially impossible to predict subsequent frames without knowing the encryption key and encryption algorithm. Frames that have stopped changing or are incorrect are considered alarms due to sabotage.

4 tags 5 electronic transmission devices 6 computers 10 security areas 16 electronic chips

Claims (7)

The defined space (1) is an anti-theft system that protects the products inside, and the system is
-At least one tag (4) including the electronic chip (16) capable of repeatedly transmitting the first signal and generated by the first technique, wherein the first signal is the tag (4). Receiving only within a limited perimeter of the surroundings, the tag is connected to the product on display by a separable mechanical connection, and the first signal is information that allows product identification. And at least one tag (4), including a time stamp ,
-An electronic transmission device (5) installed at a fixed position in the peripheral portion, wherein the device receives the first signal when the device is located in the peripheral portion, and repeats the second signal. The second signal can be transmitted, can be received outside the peripheral portion, is generated by a second technique different from the first technique, and the second signal is the product. And the electronic transmitting device (5), which comprises at least one piece of information identifying a value related to the distance between the tag and the transmitting device.
-With at least one fixed or portable computer (6) configured to receive the second signal and comprising a digital application, the digital application is based on the second signal and said transmission. The device (5) is configured to manage the presence of the tag within a defined security area (10) around it, and the fixed or portable computer (6) attaches the electronic chip (16) in a so-called connectable manner. When operating, the procedure of pairing the tag (4) by generating a direct link with the tag (4) according to the first technique is executed without going through the electronic transmission device (5). Further configured to
The anti-theft system , wherein the first signal is partially encrypted, the portion being encrypted contains the time stamp, and the other part of the first signal being unencrypted . The anti-theft system according to claim 1, wherein the digital application generates a warning when the tag (4) moves out of the security area. The anti-theft system comprises a plurality of the electronic transmission devices (5) dispersed in the space (1) so that a separate security area (10) is assigned to the electronic transmission device (5), and each said device. (5) continuously communicates with one or more tags (4) connected to the product on display in each of the areas, and the one or more computers are of the device (5). The anti-theft system according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft system is characterized by continuously communicating with each of them. The detachable mechanical connection (20) that connects the digital application and the tag (4) to the product (3) is said to be detached from the connection or unauthorized separation of the connection. The anti-theft system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to generate a warning on a fixed or portable computer. The tag (4) is
-A housing (15, 18) accommodating the chip (16) and an electric energy source for supplying electric power to the chip, and
-The power supply circuit for the chip (16) and
-The loop (19) is provided with a loop (19) that can be opened and closed to attach the tag (4) to the product (3), and the loop includes two parts (19a, 19b) including or composed of the electric wire. The anti-theft system according to claim 1, wherein the loop forms a part of a circuit connected to the chip (16) in a closed state. -At least one of the tags (4) comprises an accelerometer configured to record data related to the movement of the tag within the security zone (10).
-The tag (4) is configured to transmit the data to the electronic transmission device (5) with the first signal.
-The electronic transmission device (5) is configured to transmit the data to the computer (6) with the second signal.
-Any of claims 1-5, wherein the digital application records data related to the movement of the tag (4) and optionally generates a warning when recording an unauthorized movement. The anti-theft system described in item 1. The theft according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the first technique is a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technique, and the first signal is composed of a series of advertising frames in a BLE format. Prevention system.

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